DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged African countries to prioritise maternal and child health in their national development plans, stressing the need for concrete measures to reduce preventable deaths among mothers and children.
Dr Samia made the call yesterday during a high-level meeting with World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at State House in Dar es Salaam.
As the African Union (AU) Champion for Maternal and Child Health, President Samia said she would continue working with African leaders to strengthen reproductive health services and reduce maternal deaths associated with pregnancy and childbirth, as well as child mortality.
She stressed the need for countries to translate the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) roadmap into practical action, including ensuring that pregnant women deliver in health facilities and that children receive the required vaccinations.
President Samia also called on the WHO to continue supporting African countries with technical expertise and mobilising resources needed to implement the roadmap.
She thanked the WHO for its support in strengthening Tanzania’s health services and capacity to respond to disease outbreaks.
The president also underscored the importance of cooperation among African countries in addressing potential disease outbreaks and their effects during El Niño-related rains.
The two leaders discussed the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which seeks to strengthen international cooperation in preventing, preparing for and responding to health emergencies and disease outbreaks.
President Samia expressed Tanzania’s readiness to participate in efforts to advance the agreement and strengthen collective preparedness against future health emergencies.
For his part, Dr Tedros commended President Samia’s leadership as the AU Champion for Maternal and Child Health, saying her efforts were important to Tanzania, Africa and the world.
He also commended Tanzania for progress made in implementing the National Universal Health Insurance programme.
Dr Tedros applauded Tanzania for organising a high-level meeting on maternal and child health in New York, United States, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“We are proud of the work you are doing,” Dr Tedros said, reaffirming WHO’s readiness to continue supporting efforts to implement the RMNCAH roadmap across Africa.
Dr Tedros is in Tanzania for a working visit and to attend the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, which opened in Arusha yesterday and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday.
